William makes a good argument in the article, he brings different questions to our attention that we should ask ourselves when it comes to this dispute. The argument is well written with different aspects of the argument. He includes a couple of quotes backing up his statements. He also gives us many examples why we shouldn't bring guns to campus.

I do agree with S. Williams, guns should not be allowed on college campuses. If students bring guns to class then their going to adapt to an environment where guns are a part of society. Then soon it won't be a big deal to them if they get agry at someone and starts shooting at them. If one brings a gun to school intitually to gun the campus, the other students are going to take out their guns causing a big blow out with many students getting killed.

Allowing crime victims to have a say in court

Texas crime victims are trying to convince legislature to pass house bill 167 that would allow victims to have oral impact statements before sentencing. Crime victims should have the right to speak in court in front of a judge before the defendant is sentenced. If the defendants family and friends have a say in a courtroom then the victim should also have a say to defend themselves. No one knows the affect the crime has on a victim until the victim speaks out. In a recent case the parents of Amber Rice a young woman who was killed by a drunk driver, say they felt restless and powerless as they sat back in the courtroom watching the hearing of the man who killed their daughter. The defendant and his friends and family had an oral statement in the courtroom before sentencing, but the parents of Amber rice did not. If the defendant and his friends and family have a say in the courtroom then the victim should also have the right to do so. The victim might be emotional but should have equal rights just as everyone else who is speaking.

Texas is one of two states to forbid victims to have an oral impact statement before sentencing. Why not allow it?

N.J's blog Free tuition is arguing for free tuition for college students but not for the wealth. After reading this, I'm thinking okay yes its going to be a lot more helpful for us, if college was free. Yes we all can't afford it and sometimes financial aid just doesn't cover the whole tuition and books, but should it be free? Why did they make higher education costly in the first place? N.J doesn't exactly provide us with this information and other background and research for both sides of the argument. Personally I think that it would be pretty awesome if we didn't have to pay and the wealth did because it really isn't fare for a smart kid from a low income family to not be able to go to the school of their dreams just because their family doesn't make much and the kid whose parents make bundles is able to go to a high standard college. The only thing is, is that if college was free than just anyone would go goof off and drop out. You hear people say its your money, your time, your choice if you want to fail or not and when its them paying for it, they tend to work harder for the grade. So if its free some might not take it as seriously, but maybe if your household makes under so much a year than it should be free or at least financial aid should cover the tuition and books and a little more.

Mandating recess in Texas public schools

Bill 159 has been filed into the Texas House mandating elementary schools to have at least 20 minutes of recess daily in addition to 135 minutes of P.E time weekly. Parents and others are debating whether this bill should be passed. Some are saying reducing recess time gives educators more time to teach the children and increase test scores. Others are arguing that children need a break just like an athlete needs a break from practice, too much practice can result in injuries.

Recess should be mandated in elementary public schools for it helps develop social, cognitive and emotional coordinations. Recess is a great way for kids to take a break from their everyday studies and use their imagination. It also gives them the opportunity to blow off steam, run around and stay active throughout the school day. If they stay in a classroom learning the same subject twice as long, their going to get bored and agitated. Recess is a great way for them to burn off energy and stay physical. One child quoted “Well, when we don't have recess, I feel like screaming. When we do have recess, I do scream.” One mother debated that recess and taking a break helps children become more ready to learn and process information more effectively giving them the advantage to learn more.

Internet Polls

The blog The UT Internet Poll (again) explains how Pualburka argues Internet polls being useless and not a form of methodology. He shares with us three questions from the government professors who operate the UT Poll. Are you registered to vote in the state of Texas? How interested, generally speaking, would you say you are politics and public affairs? And How closely would you say you will be following the Texas Legislative session this year? Paulburka goes on about how 800 Texans taking this poll doesn't speak for Texas as a whole and that this poll is not accurate because of it. Also that the people taking this poll are more into politics than the norm skewing the results.

Paulburka's audience is everyone, Texas citizens, UT students and others. He doesn't want us to base all of our information on internet polls. He has a good argument in a sense of us not believing in internet polls fully but he doesn't give us information about where we can find more meaningful and truthful information. He's argueing against internet polls but doesn't side with another source. Paulburka puts alot of his opinions in this blog but doesn't make up his argument with statistics, events nothing. Paulburka doesn't prove the professors wrong, he just states how he believes the internet polls are not accurate.

The Editorial Put Austin Charter Schools in Public Realms talks about how Charter Schools should be moved into public schools and become one. So then charter school students can benefit from the sources that public schools are offered and that public school students could use better teachers and higher standards. They think that charter students will raise the test and academic ratings for schools that are almost ready to close down because of it for example Pierce and Garcia Middle school two of many that are low performers could benifit from adding charter students to their public school.

After reading this Editorial a couple of times, I'm not too crazy about the idea. Yes public schools could use higher standards and more academic resources and ideas but I don't think that combining charter and public schools is a good idea at least for right now. If you want to raise TAKS ratings and so forth you have to ask yourself whats the reason for the scores being so low in the first place. Another thing you have to think about once you combine these two schools together is will it cause rival just as it did when students from New Orleans moved to Austin and joined public schools. How well are public students going to accept the students from charter schools like KIPP Charter School. Some might accept them just fine but then alot of the students might think that the KIPP students think their smarter than them or be jealous because they don't have the attention that the others do which might start problems.

The author of this article doesn't go into depth enough arguing her opinion. She mostly describes how it will benefit public school ratings but what else is it going to do? Ok it will benefit KIPP students by allowing them to have the facilitlies and sources to better their learning but how will it affect the indivisual students in public schools. The author also doesn't provide the reader with enough information on charter schools and other things to make the reader have a better understanding of the arguing point, so they can possibly argree with her.

The Article Central Texans finding it hard to pay fines, taxes in tightening economy by Marty Toohey in the American Statesmen talks about how Montemayor and other Texans are asking for paymnent installments to pay their fines and taxes because of the economy. Because of the way the economy is going right now many Texans are having trouble paying their fines and taxes when their barely making it from paycheck to paycheck as it is. Montemayor is a young 24 year old with a pregnant girlfriend, whose hours at HEB were cut in half and had to take on a second job to afford the bills but still was barely making it, until one day he was pulled over for speeding in a school zone. The fine was worth a one week pay. Montemayor new if he paid it, he would be behind on his bills and is now asking the court for an installment plan. The rate of Texans asking for an installment plan has increased 36% within one year from 2007 to 2008. The municipal court also allowed so many poeple to contribute to community service rather than paying a fine. More and more property owners are asking for payment plans and even officials from Travis county and others are asking property owners to set up an installment plan. The economy is just making it tough for Texans to pay their fines and taxes right now.